Linda Johnson

Linda Johnson - Member

Linda E. Johnson has served as President & CEO of Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) since July 2010. As President & CEO, she oversees the operations, finances, and programs of the 60-branch system serving Brooklyn’s more than 2.5 million residents. Ms. Johnson’s priorities include: building BPL’s brand, presence, and position in the community; creating strategies to identify and engage diverse constituencies critical to the Library’s development and programmatic goals; and collaborating with community organizations to expand services while improving library operations.

Prior to being named President of BPL, Ms. Johnson was Interim President and CEO of the National Constitution Center (NCC) where she was charged by the Board, chaired by President Bill Clinton, with reorganizing, streamlining, and stabilizing the institution on a transitional basis after the unexpected departure of two previous CEOs.

Before taking the helm at the NCC, she served as CEO of the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation where she led a capital campaign to finance a major renovation and expansion of the Parkway Central Library, designed by renowned architect Moshe Safdie. She also oversaw the Library’s annual giving campaigns and was responsible for signature library programs, including One Book, One Philadelphia and the Free Library Festival.

The majority of Ms. Johnson’s career was spent in the private sector. She left the practice of law in 1990 to join JCI Data, a privately-held information services and database management provider to magazine publishers and direct marketers. Ms. Johnson led many divisions of the company including customer service, and sales and marketing. She took over as President of Worlco Data Systems (an affiliate of JCI) in 1993, and became President of JCI in 1994 after merging the two companies.

Born and raised in the Philadelphia region, Ms. Johnson earned her undergraduate degree from Hamilton College in Clinton, New York. Her post-graduate achievements include an MBA and a degree in law.